Backpacking, independent travel, and flashpacking are cheaper than the "cheapest package tours" and promotional offers around but you can also use travel information for family vacations, even romantic honeymoon destinations.

More than the usual tourist spots and "places to see," this blog advocates heritage conservation, environmental protection, and history awareness for Filipinos, foreigners, and ex-pats wishing to explore Paradise Philippines and Exotic Asia!

Manila: Fabulous FEU Art Deco Walking Tour

Throughout his college days, Tutubi passed by Espana and Lerma streets on his way to school and each time got amazed at the unique letters used in the Far Eastern University building visible from Quezon Boulevard. The name of the university emblazoned bearing a likeness to baybayin (wrongfully called alibata), the ancient script of forefathers of present day Filipinos.

This time, Tutubi joined a tour of the sprawling campus of FEU: its art deco gems, works of various national artists and a bonus trip to nearby Gota de Leche.

Tutubi arrived at FEU with J, and RM (of Project Manila) in J's black altis but their guide for the day, Ivan ManDy, didn't notice Tutubi and waited for him to arrive even if he's already inside taking some pictures.

The tour started with Ivan becoming "historical" again narrating various events that led to the introduction of Art Deco architecture in the Philippines in the roaring 20s.

One of four bas relief by noted Italian sculptor Francesco Monti. Other works include Quezon Memorial, Metropolitan Theater, Sto Domingo, Bonifacio Monument, Manila Central Post Office and University of Visayas

FEU campus is a complex of art deco buildings by Pablo Antonio with Nicanor Reyes Hall, the Girls High School (now called the FEU-East Asia College) and Boys High School (now called Law Building).

Nicanor Reyes Hall, with the baybayin-looking letters

Statues by National Artist Vicente Manansala

Merriam and Webster defines art deco as "a popular design style of the 1920s and 1930s characterized especially by bold outlines, geometric and zigzag forms, and the use of new materials (as plastic)." (Etymology: French Art Déco, from Exposition Internationale des Arts Décoratifs et Industriels Modernes, an exposition of modern decorative and industrial arts held in Paris, France, in 1925)

Chapel designed by Felipe Mendoza

Stations of the Cross inside the FEU chapel by National Artist Carlos "Botong" Francisco

FEU auditorium

Mural by Antonio Dumlao

Noticed the letters looked like Baybayin (alibata), the ancient script of the ancestors of Filipinos that Tutubi uses to sign his photographs?

Owing to the exemplary conservation work done by the university, UNESCO awarded the university the UNESCO Asia-Pacific Heritage Award in 2005.

During World War 2, the campus was used as a concentration camp by the Kempeitai and where Josefa Llanes Escoda, the founder of the Girl Scouts of the Philippines, was executed.

After the FEU tour, Tutubi suggested visiting the nearby Gota de Leche building on S.H. Loyola St (formerly Lepanto), a request acquiesed by the gracious guide.

The university produced many outstanding graduates in it's existence but the greatest of them all, according to Tutubi graduated in 1967 with a degree in accounting.

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Tutubi's own eyes saw these other Art Deco Structures in Manila and other parts of the Philippines:

Note that most of Manila's art deco structures were reduced to rubble by the howitzers of Gen. MacArthur during the Liberation of Manila, by the order of the former Manila Mayor Lito Atienza in the case of Jai Alai or by demolition by the owners unable to find adaptive re-use of the edifices.

bill, people should also strive to preserve other buildings and architectural heritage. remove the mindset that the old must give way to the new in the name of "progress"

carlotta, di ka kasi nagpakilala. didn't hear your name called or maybe i was just too busy taking pictures.

kyels, wonderful campus, I tell you. Regarding history, Malaysia anf the Philippines share a common ancestry, we all know that. Will access friendster one of these days

carlotta, baybayin is really the name of the ancient script said to bear slight resemblance to Kavi script of Java. Baybayin means to "to spell" in Tagalog.

The name Alibata only was invented, erroneously, in 1914, referring to it's alleged origins from Maguindanao (no evidence though) and from the Arabic letters alif, ba, ta (something like a ba ka da) even, again, if it's not related to Arabic.

It was either FEU or Adamson for me in the late 60's. Went there for one day to check the place but was too damn hot and humid I scurried back to the University of Baguio pronto, hehe....nice to know it's still standing.

Off topic: Have some friends there in Paete with Cagayat and Sandino last names. Maybe you also remember Jean Henry, she was gunned down in Laguna in the 80's. Her dad and siblings were my neighbors in Baguio..Cheers and goodhealth.......

hello! i'm a current 2nd year tourism student in FEU and clarify ko lang po na the FONT style used by the university is not baybayin or alibata., it's SPECIFICALLY made by the university FOR the univeristy, so FEU can lay claim that these are their own and no one else's is.,but yes they do look like some other fontstyles.,

Tutubi, I am using your photos to study my dad's story of the battle at Far Eastern University. I am researching the battle at FEU because I am convinced that battle prevented the massacre of the POWs at Santo Tomas and the liberators who went to STIC. Do you have more pictures of Reyes Hall? Would you consider sharing them?Thanks, Sue